Jam-relief device for bowling pin setting machine



Dec. 18, 1962 V. S. KOHLBERG JAM-RELIEF DEVICE FOR BOWLING PIN SETTING MACHINE 0 6 T T b m m. W K

s Q P .t w VMW Filed Dec. 8, 1961 Patented Dec. 18, 1962 3,069,164 JAM-RELIEF DEVICE FOR BOWLING PIN SETTING MACHINE Victor S. Kohlberg, Bridgeport, Conn., assignor to Bowling Specialties (10., Inc., Bridgeport, Conn, a corporation of Connecticut Filed Dec. 8, 1961, Ser. No. 158,072 9 Claims. (Cl. 273-43) This invention relates to pin setting machines for bowling alleys, and more particularly to the control mechanism of such machines, especially the mechanism involved with effecting engagement of the clutch to re-start the machine after it has been halted.

The invention is illustrated and described in connection with a Brunswick Pin Setter Machine, which has a cycle involving a 180 stop characterized by the pins being hung up in mid air by the deck, and a 270 stop, wherein the moving deck is setting new pins. The 360 condition or stop corresponds to the end of the cycle. However, the invention is not limited to this particular type or makeup of machine, since it has utility in connection with pin setting machines employing either a similar control mechanism or else a mechanism which is subject to jamming and which would be adapt-able to having certain control elements bypassed to correct a malfunctioning thereof.

In the Brunswick PinSetter Machine of the type illustrated and described herein, a jam may occur quite frequently, the machine being automatically halted in such a manner that it can only be restarted by a mechanic working from the back'of the structure or control unit, this being necessary despite the provision of a reset button and mechanism especially intended to effect start-up of the machine. The jamming or halting of a machine of the type requiring the above disadvantageous start-up, is occasioned by a number of diiierent conditions. For example, if the bowler should push the reset button of the machine before the second ball cycle thereof is completed, this kind of jam will occur. Or, if the bowler should throw a ball prematurely so that it will strike the pit cushion before the machine has completed its cycle or operation, the identified type of jam will happen. Also, if a bowler should throw his ball while the rake of the machine is operating and the ball thus thrown strikes the pit cushion before termination of the rake movement, the machine will jam. A jam of this kind will also occur in consequence of the pin wheel jamming. Further, the machine may be halted or caused to jam at one of the three stops identified above, namely the 90 stop, the 180 stop or the 270 stop, corresponding respectively to the conditions of the deck resting on the pins, the pins being hung up in mid air by the deck, and the deck moving to set new pins.

While I have discovered that the above conditions may cause the pin setter machine to jam in a manner to necessitate restarting by a mechanic located at the rear 'of the unit, I am not aware of the exact mechanical structure which is at fault or which malfunctions to require the disadvantageous restarting of the machine by a mechanic instead of merely by depressing the reset button, which latter the bowler could conveniently do at the playing position.

The above disadvantage and drawback of the Brunswick Pin Setter Machine and of similar controlmechanisms of bowling pin setting machines is obviated by the present invention, and one object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved attachment for a pin setting machine, by which a jam of the machine may be relieved by the player as a consequence of the act of effect such starts but often fails to do so).

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved jam-relief attachment for a pin setter machine as above, which is extremely simple in construction, involving relatively few parts whereby it may be economically fabricated and produced.

A feature of the invention resides in the provision of an improved jamsrelief attachment in accordance with the foregoing, which may be easily and quickly installed on and incorporated in the machine, as by an ordinary mechanic or person not possessing exceptional skill or ability.

An additional object of the invention is to provide an improved jam-relief attachment as above set forth, which is extremely reliable in its operation at all times whereby machine jams may always be relieved merely by operation of the reset button by the player or bowler, without requiring the attention of a mechanic or of maintenance personnel.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel jam relief attachment as above characterized for a Brunswick Pin Setter or like machine, which attachment will not interfere in the slightest with the normal machine operation nor alter the necessary automatic functions originally built into the machine.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings, the single FIGURE is a.

fragmentary side elevational View of that portion of the control mechanism of a Brunswick Pin Setter which is involved with effecting engagement of the clutch to start the machine in motion and which has incorporated in it the present improved jam relief attachment.

part of the conventional control mechanism which is known as the detector. Details of such detector are not shown herein for reasons of clarity of illustration, and further since they form no part of the present invent-ion. The said detector mechanism is involved, among other things, with the operation of detecting the pins which remain standing after the first ball has been thrown by the bowler.

The pin setter machine is powered by an electric motor (not shown) which is continuously running, both when the machine is at a standstill and when it is in operation during a cycle. The drive between the continually running motor and the machine is effected through a clutch assembly designated generally by the numeral 12. The clutch assembly comprises a clutch shoe 14, a clutch yoke assembly '16, a clutch shoe pivot pin 18, and an adjusting link and spring assemblage 20, the latter being connected to a' bottom pivot 22 on a clutch cam follower lever 24.

At the upper end of the clutch yoke 16 there is a top pivot 26 which connects with a control bell crank 28 referred to hereinafter as a clutch lever. The clutch lever 28 swivels'about a fixed pivot 30, and has a depending short arm 32 and a long, generally horizontally extending arm 34, the latter terminating in a roller 36.

The clutch mechanism as thus far described is of the type which operates in the following manner:

When the. clutch is engaged and the machine is in operation, as when it is passing through a cycle, the long arm 34 of the clutch lever 28 when unobstructed will oscillate up and down about the fixed pivot 30, and the top pivot 26 will be free to move generally horizontally, such oscillation being the result of an oscillating movement which is imparted to the clutch cam follower lever 24 by'a rotating cam (not shown) of the machine. ever, when downward movement of the long arm 34 of the clutch lever 28 is halted as by an obstruction, this will restrict the horizontal movement of the top pivot 26 Howi and effect disengagement of the clutch assembly 12 in a well known manner. The machine will in consequence be halted, while the powering motor continues to run. The mechanism is also arranged in such a manner that if, after halting .of the machine in the above fashion, the obstruction or support which prevent-s downward movement of the long arm 34 of the clutch lever is removed, so that such arm is now free to oscillate (and the top pivot 26 is free to oscillate generally in a horizontal plane) the clutch will become engaged, resulting in the machine start-ing a cycle of operation.

Control of the long arm 34 of the clutch lever is effected, in the Brunswick Pin Setter Machine, by a pivoted yoke member 4% which is hereinafter termed a stop arm. The stop arm 40 has a pair of depending supporting legs 42 (only one of which appears in the drawing), sa1d legs being pivotally carried on a fixed pivot or spindle 44 of the machine. The stop arm 40 also has a horizontally extending portion 46 joining the depending legs t2, and an upstanding portion or flag 48 which latter is intended for engagement with the roller 36 of the clutch lever arm 34 when the stop arm 40 is in the upright position shown. The stop arm 40 is capable of counterclockwise rotation from the upright position illustrated, whereupon it will become disengaged from the roller 36, permitting the clutch lever arm 34 to have free or unrestricted vertical oscillating movement in the manner above mentioned. i

The clutch lever arm 34 may comprise two separat sections extending side-by-side in a manner such that only one (that nearest the viewer) is seen in the drawing, the roller 36 being located between the said sections. Or, the clutch lever arm may comprise a single member having a bifurcated end portion to accommodate the roller 36 and to provide space or clearance for the fiag 48 of the stop arm 40. when the arm is shifted somewhat to the left from the upright position shown, and is disengaged from the roller 36.

The stop arm 40 is normally spring-biased in a clockwise directiori, as by the provision of a helical extension spring 50. The spring 50 thus effects movement of the stop arm 48 is a clockwise direction to the vertical when such arm is free; movement in a counterclockwise direction against the action of the extension spring 50 is effected by a pair of levers 52 and 54 pivotally carried by the fixed spindle or pivot 44. The lever 52 is hereinafter termed a plunger lever, said lever having short and long, oppositely extending horizontal arms 52a and 52b and the arm 52a being connected to a helical extension spring 56 which is attached to a portion 58 of the machine frame. The said frame portion 58 also has a dash-pot assemblage indicated generally by the numeral 60, including aplunger 62 which is pivotally connected to the short lever arm 52a by a suitable link 64.

The long arm'52b of the plunger lever 52 is pivotally connected by a pin 66 to an upright link member 68 which is hereinafter termed a clutch actuator link.

The second'lever 54, which is hereafter termed a clutch.releaselever, comprises a curved arm 54a which extends downward and to the right, said arm having a pivot pin 70 which. is accommodated in a notch 68a of the actuator link 68 and also in a slot 72 of a downwardly extending link'merhber 74 herein termed a strike or interlock link. which is effective to produce the 180 stop (in a manner hereinafter explained in detail.)

The clutch release lever 54 has a. one-way driving connection with the plunger lever 52, and also has a one-way driving connection withthe stop arm 40. Such one-way driving connections are illustrated in a simple manner as comprising lugs 54p and 54d carried by the clutch release lever 54 and engageable respectively with edge portions of the plunger lever 52 and the stop arm 40. Asla consequenceof such driving connections there is established a drive betweenrthe plunger lever 52 and the I stop arm 40, as will now be understood. When the plunger lever 52 is swung in a counterclockwise direction, it will carry with it the clutch release lever 54 and also the stop arm 40, these two latter pieces swinging counterclockwise and the stop arm 40 becoming disengaged from the roller 36 to permit engagement of the clutch assembly 12.

This engagement of the clutch assembly may mark the beginning of a cycle of operations. Upon the cycle of the machine being initiated, the whole deck will be lowered, depositing a complete set of ten pins on the alley in readiness for the players first ball. The deck will then be raised, and the machine may thereafter be halted at a later time under various circumstances, by disengagement of the clutch. if, after engagement of the clutch and elapse of the interval of time the clutch release lever 54 is caused to swing in a clockwise direction, it will enable the stop arm 49 to return in a clockwise direction to the vertical position under the urging of the spring 56. In consequence, this action will result in the machine being halted, and this may occur at the 180 position as a result of the player effecting a strike wherein the first ball thrown knocks down all of the pins.

This circumstance of a strike being thrown gives rise to the following action: The ball, in striking the pit cushion, will etfect engagement of the clutch assemblage 12 in a manner to be described in greater detail later, initiating the cycle of operation of the machine, and as the machine deck is lowered the absence of any upstanding pins will be noted or detected. The detector mechanism of the machine will now pull a horizontal link 82 forward or to the right. The link is pin-connected, as described below, to the actuator link 68 and will swing the latter counterclockwise a slight extent, effecting disengagement of the pin 70 on the clutch release lever from the notch 68a of the link. The clutch release lever 54 is now free of the link 68. The interlock link 74, which is normally held firm or motionless when the deck is full (carrying a full complement of pins) will now be released in consequence of the deck rising in an empty condition. The interlock link 74 is spring-urged downward (by means not shown herein) and upon its being released it will pull downward and clockwise the clutch release lever 54 which has been freed from the link 68. This will permit the stop arm 40 to swing clockwise and resume the vertical position shown in the drawing, whereupon the machine will be halted at the 180 stop, in consequence of the strike being made.

At its lower end, the clutch actuator link 68 carrie a pivot pin 78 which is accommodated in a slot 80 of the horizontal link 82, said link being termed herein a pin detecting link and being actuated by the detector in response to the strike occurring.

The upper portion of the clutch actuator link 68 has a slot 84 in which there is accommodated a latch pin 86 carried by a reset lever 88 which is under the control of the detector mechanism mentioned above. When the cycle of the machine approaches completion, the reset lever 88 automatically is lowered and halts the machine to terminate the cycle, as will be further explained below.

The upper portion of the clutch actuator link 68 also has a pivot pin 90.pivotally mounting on the link a clutch latch member 92 provided with a locking shoulder 94 which is engageable with the latch pin 86 to restrict movement of the latter in the slot 84. The latch member 92 is connected by a pivot pin 96 with a short link 98, the latter being hereinafter termed a short connection. Control of the latch member 92 is thus eifected by the part 98.

The short connection 98 is pivotally connected by a pin 100 with a bell crank 102, which is hereinafter termed a starter bell crank lever. A short arm 102a of the starter bell crank lever 102 carries a pivotal connection 104 to which there is attached a trip rod 106 leading from the pit cushion. A link member 108 is connected to the bottom of the bell crank 102 and also connected via-J to a plunger 110 of a solenoid 112, the latter being called hereinafter a new pin solenoid. The new pin solenoid 112 is carried by the portion '10 of the machine frame, as shown. The starter bell crank lever 102 turns about a fixed pivot 114 which is fixedly carried by a portion of the machine frame.

All of the above structure is conventional in a Brunswick Pin Setter, and is well known. The operation of the specific structure set forth above will shortly be briefly described. First, however, it may be well to note the general functioning of the machine, where the first ball does not result in a strike. (The action following a strike has been already explained above.) After the first ball is thrown, the machine rake is lowered. Then the deck is lowered and the standing pins are detected. The deck thereafter rises, lifting with it the standing pins. The rake then sweeps the dead wood off the alley. The deck thereafter descends, depositing again the standing pins, in readiness for the next ball to be thrown.

Considering now the situation where the clutch is disengaged in consequence of the stop arm 40 being in its raised or vertical posit-ion as shown in the figure, the machine will be at a standstill, but with the motor running. When the player throws a ball down the alley, the ball after striking or passing the pins will'strike the pit cushion. This will result in the trip rod 106 being shifted from left-to-right as viewed in the figure, and will cause the starter bell crank 102 to swing counterclockwise, pulling the short connection 98 from right-to-left. The clutch latch member 92 will in consequence be swung counterclockwise about the pivot 90, thereby freeing the slot 84 in the upper portion of the clutch actuator link '68 and ceasing to block the latch pin 86 carried by the reset lever 88. In consequence of this action, the clutch actuator link 68 may shift upward under the urging of the plunger lever 52 and spring 56 associated therewith. Such action will be relatively slow, being controlled by the dashpot 60. The link 68 will drive in a counterclockwise direction, the clutch re lease lever 54, and the latter in turn will drive before it in a counterclockwise directon or from right-to-left, the stop arm 40. The flag 48 of the stop arm will become disengaged from the roller 36 and will no longer support the long arm 34 of the clutch lever, whereby the top pivot 26 of the clutch assembly will be free for horizontal shifting movement. In consequence, the clutch will become engaged and the cycle of the machine will commence.

In another manner, the cycle of the machine may be commenced without requiring a ball to strike the pit cushion. At the players position there is usually provided a reset button 114 which is connected as shown to effect .energization of the solenoid 112 when the button is depressed. Such action will cause the plunger 110 of the solenoid 112 to be shifted from left-to-right, pulling the link 108 in the same direction and shifting the starter bell crank lever 102 in'a counterclockwise direction. This counterclockwise movement of the starter bell crank lever will then effect engagement of the clutch and starting of the cycle in the manner already described above where the starter bell crank Was shifted clockwise by the trip rod 106 from the pit cushion.

When the cycle is to terminate, the reset lever 88 is moved downward, shifting clockwise the plunger lever 52 and the clutch release lever 54. The release lever 54 1 enables the stop arm 40 to move clockwise whereby the mechanic at the location of the machine to start the same independently of a ball striking the pit cushion or independently of energization of the new pin solenoid 112. The reason for the failure of actuation of the solenoid 112 to effect starting of the machine is that, even though the clutch latch member 92 is properly shifted in a counterclockwise direction in consequence of encrgiza-tion of the solenoid, the clutch actuator link 68, being in a partially raised position, cannot (in a manner not fully understood at the present time) shift to its fully raised position whereby the levers 52 and 54 shift fully counterclockwise to move the stop arm 40 and the flag 48 thereof out of engagement with the roller 38 so that the clutch lever 28 is free.

The conditions wherein this type of jam of the machine will occur, may be as follows:

(a) Pushing of the reset button before the completion of the cycle.

(b) Striking of the pit cushion by a ball before the machine cycle is completed.

(c) A thrown ball striking the pit cushion before the rake fully raises after clearing the dead wood from the alley.

(d) Halting of the machine at either the stop, where the deck is resting upon the pins remaining upright, the 180 stop where the pins are hung up in mid air, or else the 270 stop when the moving deck is setting new pins.

In accordance with the present invention, in conjunction with the above described mechanism there is provided a novel and improved, simple and effective jam release device which is preferably constituted as an at tachment, and which may be readily applied to the existing machine structure to enable the machine to be reliably started from the players position, without requiring the services of the mechanic at the location of the machine. The said attachment comprises relatively few parts and is responsive to actuation of the reset button 114 provided at the players position, such button being intended for the purpose of starting the machine but failing in this function for certain jamming conditions of the machine as above enumerated.

The attachment comprises, in its simplest form, a pair of links 120 and 122 interconnected for reverse movement by a connecting lever 124 carried by a pivot 126 aifixed to the machine frame portion 10. The link 120 is pivotally connected to the plunger of the solenoid 112 by a pivot connection 128. Pivotal connections 130 and 132 join the lever 124 with the links 120, 122, and the latter link has a slot 134 accommodating a guide pin 136 which is carried by the starter bell crank lever 102. The end of the link 122 which is adjacent the slot 134 is indicated at 122a, such end being arranged for abutting engagement with a portion 40a of the stop arm 40.

The organization is such that when the stop arm 40 is in the vertical position shown, whereinthe clutch is disengaged, the end 122a of the link 122 will be positioned adjacent the shoulder portion 40a of the stop arm, in position to shift the said arm in a counterclockwise direction when the link 122 is moved from right to left. Also, for such positions of the parts, the solenoid 112 will be in the dc-energized condition, and the plunger 110 thereof will bein the extended position shown. a

With the above construction, energization of solenoid 112 will shift the plunger 110 from left to right, shifting the link in the same direction and shifting the second link 122 from right to left. This will apply a push to the vertical stop arm 40 by the end 122a of the link 122, dislodging the said stop arm, from the vertical, clutch disengaging position and freeing the clutch lever arm 34 whereby the clutch will become engaged.

It will now be understood that the attachment provided by the invention bypasses the conventional control mechanism which is intended to respond to the energization of the solenoid 112 and effect engagement of the clutch. The attachment provides a substantially direct driving engagement between the solenoid 112 and the stop arm 43, whereby the latter will be positively dislodged from the vertical, clutch disengaging position whenever the solenoid H2 is energized. Such direct engagement and driving connection has a number of distinct advantages. For one thing, it unfailingly results in starting of the machine when the reset button controlling the energization of the solenoid 112 is depressed, regardless of the condition or position of the starter bell crank lever 1G2, clutch actuator link 68, plunger lever 52, and clutch release lever 54. Further, tl e direct driving connection effected by the attachment comprising the links 126, 122 and the interconnecting lever 124 is extremely simple, comprising relatively few parts which may be economically fabricated and assembled, and which may further be easily and quickly applied or attached to the existing machine structure without requiring highly skilled personnel. The ordinary mechanic, following a simple set of directions, may readily incorporate the attachment in the machine. Since the attachment bypasses the existing control parts comprising the starter bell crank lever 102, clutch latch 92 clutch actuator link 68, and levers 52 and 54, any malfunctioning of these cannot defeat the purpose of the attachment which is to start up the machine after a particular type of jam has occurred as above explained.

It is moreover seen that the use of the attachment will not interfere in the slightest with the normal intended operation of the control mechanism already existing on the machine, since a push or abutting type drive connection exists between the link end 122a on the one hand and the portion 49a of the stop arm on the other hand. The presence of the links 126, 122 and interconnecting lever 124 does not interferein the slightest with the HM- rnal functioning of the various components explained above in detail. The stop arm may shift from right to left (as in a counterclockwise direction) without involving movement of the link 122 because of the separable driving connection established between these parts. Further, since the link 122 is always normally retracted because the solenoid 112 is always normally de-energized, the end 122a thereof will never stand in the way of return of the stop arm to the vertical position, when it is necessary for the machine to be halted.

While the exact nature of the malfunctioning of the conventional control mechanism of the machine is not known, the attachment as provided by the present invention circumvents the components of such control mechanism which at times function incorrectly, and instead enable a player to unfailingly dislodge the stop arm 46 from the vertical, clutch disengaging position whenever this may be desired for the purpose of starting the machine. The attachment may be applied to pin setting machines employing a control mechanism similar similar to that illustrated herein and a found in the Bruswick Pin Setter. Variations and modications may be made within the scope of the claims, and portions of the improvement may be used without others.

I claim:

1. In an automatic pin-setting machine for a bowling alley, in combination,

(a) a clutch control member which normally oscillates during engagement of the clutch and operation of the machine,

(1;) a movable stop part which is shiftable into and out of the path of movement of the clutch control member, said stop part when disposed in said path of movement having a halting position which effects a blocking of the control member and a halting of the machine,

(c) a powered drive device connected with the stop part to shift the latter into a non-halting position for starting the machine,

(d) said drive device including a driver member and a lost-motion drive connection between the driver member and the stop part,

(e) control means including a movable starter part, for rendering o erative the said drive device in response to movement of the pit cushion when struck by a ball, thereby to start the machine,

(f) manually controlled electrical means for actuating the starter part independently of the cushion movement, to shift the starter part for effecting a starting of the machine at will, and

(g) direct-acting means between the said electrical means and the stop part, said direct-acting means bypassing the said control means and drive device and effecting positive shifting of the stop part to the non-halting position in response to operation of the electrical means whereby the machine may be started at will in the event of failure of the control means and drive device to shift the stop part for starting.

2. A pin setting machine as claim 1, wherein:

(a) the direct-acting means comprises a pair of links and a lever interconnecting the links to restrict movement thereof to directions which are opposite one another,

(b) one of said links has a connection with the electrical means, and

(c) the other link has a connection with the said stop part.

3. A pin setting machine as in claim 2, wherein:

(a) there is a slide bearing means connected between the said other link and the starter part.

4. A pin setting machine as in claim 2, wherein:

(a) the manually controlled electrical means comprises a solenoid having a plunger,

(b) the said one link is drivingly connected with the solenoid plunger.

5. A pin setting machine as in claim 1, wherein:

(a) the direct-acting means includes a link having at one end an abutting driving connection with the stop part.

6. A pin setting machine as in claim 5, wherein:

(a) the electrical means comprises a solenoid having a plunger which is normally advanced when the solenoid is deenergized,

(b) there are means connecting the link with the solenoid plunger to effect retraction of the link when the plunger is advanced whereby the link end is normally removed and disengaged from the stop part, to normally not interfere with movement of said part.

7. A pin setting machine as in claim 6, wherein:

(a) the means connecting the link with the plunger comprises a second link and a direction-changing lever interconnecting the said links.

8. A pin setting machine as in claim 1, wherein:

(a) the control means includes a latch actuated by the starter part and a link pivotally carrying the latch,

(b) the drive device includes a link 68 connected to the said latch,

(c) the lost motion drive connection comprises an intermediary part constituted as a lever, which is acted on by the said last-named link'68 and which in turn acts on the stop part.

9. A pin setting machine as in claim 8, wherein:

(a) there is a periodically actuated control element of the machine connected to the said last-named link to shift the latter for effecting movement of the stop part and halting of the machine;

vised copy 1957, p. 41. 

